Wave-power motor



(No Model.) 3 sheetssheet 1..

A. ROSBNHOLZ.

WAVE POWER MTOR..

No. 472,398. l Patented Apr. 5, 1892..

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet z.

A. ROSENHOLZ.

WAVE POWER MOTOR.

Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. ROSENHOLZ.

WAVE POWER MOTOR.

NO. 472,398. Patented Apr. 5, 1892.v

A NORA/fyi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED ROSENHOLZ, OF W'ARDNER, IDAHO.

WAVE-POWER MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,398, dated April 5, 1892.

A Application filed July 8,1891. Serial No. 398,839. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom. it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALFRED RosENHoLz, of lVardner, in the county of Shoshone and State of Idaho, have invented a new and Improved VVave-Power Motor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved wave-power motor which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and arranged to be located any desired distance from the shore to receive the full force of the waves.

The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts are as hereinafter described.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure il is a transverse section of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View of part of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the anchors, and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of part of the gearing.

The improved wave-power motor is provided with a suitably-constructed vessel A, adapted to float on the water and held in place by two cables or anchor-chains B, each carrying an anchor B2 and arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of the vessel. Each chain is connected atits upper end with a windlass B for raising or lowering the anchor B2, according to the depth of the water. 'llic ends of a chain Bs are also connected with the windlass B' and pass through guideblocks B4, through which also pass the anchor-ehains B. The blocks are secured on opposite sides of the vessel, near the bottom, and form a pivot for the vessel to rock on. The chain B3 is connected at its middle with a swivel connection B5, connected by chains Il with a heavyweight B7,connected by short chains B8 with anchors Bi for holding the weight in place on the bottom of the sea. The weight B7 is provided with a central opening for the passage of the cable or cables C, extending from the shore, passing through the weight and to the interior of the vessel A, to be connected with dynamo-machines D, located in the said vessel and driven by air-cngines E, deriving their m'otive power from reservoirs F, filled with compressed air from air-reservoirs G, actuated by a special mechanism set in motion by the rocking of the vessel.

The air-compressors G are preferably arranged in two sets, and the sets are connected by pitmen G and G2 with crank-arms G3 and G4, respectively, secured 011 the shafts G5 and G6, respectively, extending longitudinally and mounted to turn in suitable bearings located within the vessel A. The shafts G5 and Gr6 carry the gear-wheels G7 and GB, respectively, of which the former is in mesh at its bottom with segmental gear-teeth 112, held on a segment II, secured on a shaft H4 in the vessel A. The other gear-wheel GS engages at its top segmental teeth IIS, formed on a segment H', similar in construction to the segment II, and pivoted on a short shaft IIS, arranged in line with the shaft H4. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) inner ends of the shafts Gr5 and G6 carry the bevel-pinions I and I', respectively, both meshing into the bevel gear-Wheels I2 and I3, arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of the said pinions I and I', and both being secured on a vertically-arranged shaft I4.

On the top of the gear-wheel I2 is secured an outwardly-extending frame or arm K, and a like arm or frame K extends from the nnder side of the bevel gear-wheel I3. The outer ends of the arms K and K carry the weights L and L', respectively, provided at their under sides with friction-rollers L2 and L, respectively, mounted to travel on semicircular tracks N and N', respectively, arranged horizontally within the vessel A. As thc latter is connected at its ends with the anchor-chains B it is free to rock from side to side, so that this rocking motion of the Vessel causes the segments Il and lL to swing, whereby the gear- Wheels GT and G8 are rotated, thereby rotating the shafts G and G, which actuate the air-compressors G. The motion of the shafts is also transmitted by the bevel-pinions I and The l to the gear-wheels I2 and I, so that the weights L and L are caused to swing forward and backward on the tracks N and N', it being understood that the said weights travel in opposite directions. The weights L and IOO ' mos, and the electricity generated by the latter is passed through the cables C to the shore to be utilized for various purposes.

Ou cachside of the vessel A are arranged a number of weighted oats O, each pivoted at O' to the side of the vessel, asis plainly shown in Fig. 1. Each weighted float O is pivotally-connected by a link P with a, threearmed lever Q, connected with the pistonlrods R and R of the air-compressors S and S', respectively, discharging the compressed air into the air-reservoirs F, located within the vessel A. The compressed air in the reservoirs F is'utilized for various purposes, principally, however, as above stated, for the airengines E, located within the vessel.

Each of the weighted floats O is providedV with an upwardly-extending toothed arm T,

adapted to be engaged by a bolt U, fitted to slide in suitable bearings bn the frame-work extending from the sides of. the vessel and forming part of the support for the compressors S and S. Each bolt is connected with a rod U', extending into the casing and under the control of the operator. By engaging the bolt U with the toothed arm T the respective weighted float can be locked iu place to prevent it from actuating its air-compressors. By these means any set of air-compressors can be stopped whenever desired. The weighted floats 0 are sufficiently heavy to sink about half-way down into the water, so that when the waves exert their power on the Vfloat it will rise, and thus give the same pressure to the working parts as when the float is going down on the receding of the waves.

' The dynamo-machines D, air-compressors G, S, andl S', reservoirs' F, and air-engines E are not shown in detail, as they may be of any approved construction, and therefore further description of them is not deemed necessary. l It is understood that when the vessel A leans to one side, this being caused'by the action of the waves, then the two-weights L and L travel in opposite directions on their tracks until they meet at the lower side of the vessel, and when the vessel keels over to the opposite side the weights run back, but in opposite directions to their former positions. By raising either anchbr-chain B vthe vessel will swing around with its head to the wind, so that the waves have no eiect on the vessel, and consequently the rocking motion of the -latter ceases and the entire interior machinery is stopped.

Having thus described my invention, I I" claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In'a wave-motor, the combination, with a vessel adapted to rock'and air-compressors arranged as shown, of 'the horizontal shafts H H, the vertical rocking segments -H andl H', mounted thereon and having teeth pro'- jecting upward and downward, respectively,

shown and described.

2. In a wave-power motor, the combination, with a vessel floating in the water and anchor-chains connected withtheends of the said vessel, of driving-shafts mounted to turn withas shown, the horizontal rock-shafts G5 and in the said vessel and adaptedto be actuated by swinging weights receiving their motion when the vessel rocks, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a wave-power motor, the combination, with a vessel adapted to float in the water andanchored at its ends to be free to rock sidewise, of weighted arms mounted to swing within the said vessel and main shafts adapted to be turned by the rocking motion of the- 'said weights, the said shafts being'counected with air-compressors'located in the vessel, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a wave-power motor. the combination, with a vessel adapted to oat in the water and anchored at its ends to be free to rock sidewise, of weighted arms mounted to swing within the said vessel, main shafts adapted to .be turned by the rocking motion of the said weights, the said shafts being connected with air-compressors located in the vessel, and cables leading from the dynamos in the said vessel through the anchors vand then to the shore, substantially as shown and described. 5. In a wave-power motor, the combination, with a vesselh containing the motor adapted to drive dynamo-machines located in the said vessel, of chains connected with the ends of the said vessel, weights hung on said chains and anchored at the bottom of the sea, and cables leading from the dynamo-machines in the said vessel through the said weights to extend to the shore along the bottom of the sea, substantially as shown and described.

ALFRED ROSENIIOLZ.

IOO 

